Schooling and education in Australia

It might seem like a long time before you have to enrol your little one in school, but it pays to be prepared.

How old do they have to be before starting BIG school? What is their first prep year called? What are the cut-off dates?

Leaving it to the last minute can cause unnecessary stress, so find the information you need to know early, and make sure everything is ready when it needs to be.

Here is our quick guide to education in Australia.

When is school compulsory?

School is compulsory between the age of 6 and 16 or 17 (Year 1 to 10).

Formal schooling includes:

a preparatory year before Year 1

primary schooling: 6 or 7 years – Years 1-6 or 1-7 (depending on state)

secondary schooling: 5 or 6 years – Years 7-12 or 8-12.

Australian children often do a year of preschool or pre-prep before formal schooling starts.

What are the differences in schooling between Australian states?

The education system in each Australian state is run by that state’s government. Some of the main differences are what each level is called (for example Prep in Queensland is the same as Kindy in NSW).

Another difference is that primary school is from Grades 1-6 in some states and from 1-7 in others, which means a Grade 7 student will be in high school in some states but in primary school in other states.

Australian Education System: State by State

State / Territory

Pre-Prep

Prep Year

Primary School

High School

ACT

Preschool

Kindy

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

NSW

Preschool

Kindy

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

NT

Preschool

Transition

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

QLD

Kindy

Prep

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

SA

Preschool/Kindy

Reception

Grade 1-7

Grade 8-12

TAS

Kindy

Prep

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

VIC

Kindy

Prep

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

WA

Kindy

Pre-primary

Grade 1-6

Grade 7-12

How old does my child have to be when they start school?

The age your child needs to be to start school varies from state to state. Although the prep year is considered to be the start of formal full-time schooling.

Many parents chose to send their children to preschool or pre-prep when they are 3-4 years old – in preparation for formal schooling. Some private preschools/kindy may have different rules for enrolment, and if places are available may let you enrol a younger child (one that turns four later in the year, for example). However, those children won’t be able to attend formal schooling until they meet the enrolment requirements for the Preparatory Year.

State / Territory

Pre-Prep

Prep Year

ACT

Must be 4 by April 30 in the year they enrol in Preschool

Must be 5 by April 30 in the year they enrol in Kindy

NSW

Must be 4 by July 31 in the year they enrol in Preschool

Must be 5 by July 31 in the year they enrol in Kindy

NT

Must be 4 by June 30 in the year they enrol in Preschool

Must be 5 by June 30 in the year they enrol in Transition

QLD

Must be 4 by July 31 in the year they enrol in Kindy

Must be 5 by June 30 in the year they enrol in Prep

SA

Must be 4 by May 1 in the year they enrol in Preschool/Kindy

Must be 5 by May 1 in the year they enrol in Reception

TAS

Must be 4 by January 1 in the year they enrol in Kindy

Must be 5 by January 1 in the year they enrol in Prep

VIC

Must be 4 by April 30 in the year they enrol in Kindy

Must be 5 by April 30 in the year they enrol in Prep

WA

Must be 4 by June 30 in the year they enrol in Kindy

Must be 5 by June 30 in the year they enrol in Pre-primary

What else do I need to know?

The most important thing is to get in early – especially if you want to enrol your child in private school.

Even if you don’t know where you’ll be living when your child is due to start school, you should investigate your options and put their names down where necessary. Some waiting lists at private schools are so long you’d be well advised to have your child’s name down at birth!

Education in state schools is free. Non-state schools and pre-preps are generally fee paying.

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13 comments so far -

Sorry, my son is in year six! For the past two years his little school of 50- 65 students from prep to six have been segregated in our playground. My son comes from a broken family and has no siblings. Why is he not aloud to play and essentially make friends with the younger children in his school of 60 or so students . it seems to be a new way for principals the last three years. I do not believe it contributes to healthy social growth in children in year foundation all the way to year six. My son is finding it so hard to be friends with only his grade 6 in a small school. Somebody help!!!!!;;;;;;!!!

Hi Crystin. Thanks for reading and thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear that your son is having a hard time fitting in at school. It is only early days and perhaps it will get better this year. But it can’t hurt to have a chat with the principal to let them know of your concerns. Have a chat to his teacher as well to gain a better understanding of the issue and why your son might be having trouble. Perhaps he could join some extra-curricular sports or activities to meet more children with similar interests?

My daughter and I are moving to NSW (West Ryde) first quarter of 2018.
I would like to know how to register my child? She is 4yrs now and turning 5yrs in May 2018.
Can I enroll her to a private school first in 2018? Then enroll her in Public School for Year 2019? Appreciate your help…I am not sure if it’s possible.

Hi Ezmom – thanks for reading and thanks for your question. If your daughter is 5 in May 2018 she’ll be able to enrol in Kindy – which is the prep year in NSW. Prep is the first year of formal schooling so usually children continue in that same school for Year 1.

But if you’d like to move her I’m sure it is possible.

Schools will be taking enrolments for next year already. You will have to choose a school in the area and contact them (or visit their website) for information on how to enrol.

Hello, We are moving to Australia in April and my son will have turned 6 in april. My problem is that he does not speak English. And still can not write and read. Here in Brazil he would be starting the last year of what would be the Kynder and then enter the first degree. How would it be in sydney?

Hi Evelyn! How exciting. What a great adventure you and your family is about to embark on!

At this age, your son would be in Year 1 or Grade 1. This is the second year of school – the first year is called kindergarten in NSW. At this age they would be expected to know their alphabet, how to sound out words and would be beginning to write and read independently.

In Sydney your choice of school will depend on where you live. My advice would be to contact schools in the area, once you know where you’ll be living, and see what type of extra support they can offer your child given that he is new to Australia and does not speak English. They may recommend that he start in Kindergarten rather than Year 1. I am not sure.

Hi! We are moving to Australia in September…yay! Can’t wait!
My son will have turned 9 in July and would have started back in September as a Year 5 student.
Can anyone confirm which Year he would be in for WA? Every time I think I’ve worked it out I second guess myself
Many thanks,
Clare

How awesome for you and your family! You are in for some exciting times ahead.

I am not too familiar with the school system in WA however, but it looks like it is the same as in my home state QLD. Going by that information your son will be starting in Year 3. The school year ends in December and he will start Year 4 in 2018. As the cut off is the end of June he will be one of the oldest in the class.

I would also recommend chatting to the school though – in case his previous education has him at a higher lever. I am not sure how flexible schools are with this but as he just missed the cut of by less than a month, it might be worth asking the question.

My daughter is smart for her age and I’m not happy that I won’t be able to get her into school till next year! She is 8 days off the cut off period (vic) I think once your child gets to a point that it should be more of a guide line for Parants and less of a strict rule! She has already done a year of kinder…. I think there should be at least considerations for children to start early

Hi Mum of 2. Thanks for your comment. How frustrating indeed to miss out by 8 days. Is it really that strict? I know of parents in QLD who are able to hold back a child if they feel like they aren’t ready although I haven’t heard of it the other way around. I did this myself though – I went in the year I turned 5 rather than the year I turned 6 which was the way it was way back then. I coped fine and I was well and truly ready. Hope you find a solution! All the best xx

The rules can be very strict in some states which is frustrating. As a Mum who had a son who was (and still is) doing academically well there is more to starting school than academics. Some kids can be 18 months older (in NSW) if you are the youngest which is fine as long as they are emotionally ready for dealing with lunchtimes, remembering their news day and also teasing and “play” that go on on the playground with 100s of older kids. You can still foster your child’s academics and she won’t lose her intelligence in 12 months but you can’t fast track resilience and emotional needs.

The youngest child in my son’s class was very bright – already able to read but they pulled her out after 3 weeks due to not being emotionally ready and “organisationally” ready.